SON DONG CRAFT VILLAGE
A place to preserve the quintessence of traditional Vietnamese crafts
In the land of Son Dong – Hoai Duc, Hanoi, a craft village has existed and developed for more than a thousand years of history. This place is not only a place to produce statues, horizontal lacquered boards, parallel sentences, and gilded worship items, but also the cradle of a living cultural heritage – crystallized from the talented hands, devotion and dedication of many generations of artisans.
Since the Tien Le Dynasty (10th century), under the imprint of Duc Thanh Dao Truc – who is considered the founder of the craft, Son Dong has formed a solid foundation for the sculpture profession, passed down through each generation. Through wars, social changes and changes of the times, the people of Son Dong have continuously preserved, restored and spread the traditional values of the craft.
SPIRITUALITY-INTEGRATED CRAFTS
The products of the craft village are not simply fine art objects – but are works imbued with the spirit of national belief and culture. Buddha statues, statues of famous people, parallel sentences, lotus vases made of jackfruit wood… not only appear throughout the country, but are also present in the spiritual spaces of overseas Vietnamese in Europe, America, and Southeast Asia.
With a meticulous manufacturing process from wood selection, carving, priming, gilding to finishing painting – each product is a laborious creative process, requiring skills, emotions and serenity. Each “face” of the statue is measured in proportion by the eyes and hands of the craftsman, each carving is a traditional feature.
A CREATIVE AND GROWING COMMUNITY
Son Dong craft village currently has hundreds of production facilities, more than 4,000 direct workers, along with a network of artisans, skilled workers and young generations being trained to continue the profession. Son Dong products meet OCOP 3-4 star standards and are continuously honored at exhibitions and traditional craft festivals at home and abroad.
The title “Vietnam’s largest Buddhist statue and worship item craft village” was recognized in 2007, along with the traditional craft village recognition certificate in 2001, which is a testament to the special cultural and economic role of Son Dong.
Honors & Awards
2023 – Craft village proposed to join the World Craft Creative Cities Network (under UNESCO)
2020 – Many products achieved 3-4 star OCOP certification at Hanoi city level
2016 – Craft village selected to participate in the OCOP program (One Commune One Product)
2009 – Establishment of Son Dong Traditional Sculpture Craft Village Cooperative
2007 – Recorded in the Vietnam Book of Records as “The largest craft village of carving Buddhist statues and worship objects in Vietnam”
2004 – Establishment and launch of Son Dong Traditional Craft Club
2001 – Recognized as a Traditional Craft Village (according to Decision No. 39/2001/QD-UB of the People’s Committee of the former Ha Tay province)